The absence of President Donald Trump and key members of his cabinet at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos this week probably won't matter all that much, analysts told CNBC, but it is an accurate reflection of global affairs over the last 12 months.

An ad from McDonald's Taiwan that sparked a row about whether it showed support for the country's independence from China has been withdrawn. The commercial showed a student's exam admission ticket stating her nationality as Taiwanese.